"Dark Specter, Welcome Home": Power Rangers Finally Unleashes the Franchise's Ultimate Big Bad

The mastermind behind all of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers' turmoil is back in his darkest form yet, and the planet may truly be doomed.

Warning: Spoilers for Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #111!The biggest baddie of the franchise is finally unleashed upon the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. The baddie in question is Dark Specter, who fans may recognize as the main antagonist of Power Rangers in Space. However, since the beginning, he has always been a looming presence in the background as leader of the United Alliance of Evil. More recently, he's been repurposed as Rita Repulsa's superior, as she attempts to bring about his return.

She finally succeeds in her plans in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #111 by Melissa Flores, Simona Di Gianfelice, Raul Angulo, Jose Enrique Fernandez, Ed Dukeshire, Madison Goyette, Kenzi Rzonca, and Allyson Gronowitz. The issue kicks off a year-long story arc, appropriately titled The Darkest Hour. Rita Repulsa, now calling herself Mistress Vile, manages to open a portal using the Zeo Crystal, perverting the Morphin Grid in the process. Doing so not only brings Dark Specter into this universe but also gives him a physical vessel to exist in.

Since the beginning of the latest arc, Rita has utilized the minion services of a new pawn, Vessel. Vessel has been revealed to be Zordon's discarded physical body. Once his mind becomes influenced by a conversation with Zordon's consciousness back at the Command Center, his allegiance to Rita Repulsa becomes questionable. However, it appears as if Rita has kept Vessel as a pawn this whole time merely to give Dark Specter a body to reside in. Previous flashbacks in past issues showed that other attempts by Rita's father had resulted in failure, one attempt frying half of the brain of Rita's brother, Rito.

This new revelation forces readers to analyze the past 10 issues through a new lens, specifically Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #104, which the above panels are from. That's the flashback issue that depicts Rita killing her father and becoming Mistress Vile. In the same breath, she promises a vessel for Dark Specter who represents "the husk of a once-great warrior. Pure of heart." At the time, readers had no idea what Rita was talking about, but now the pieces have come together. With each issue, readers and the Rangers would only get small breadcrumbs of what Rita has been planning and how she set out to achieve it. Now, the plan is not only complete, but she's won. The Darkest Hour has officially begun.

Dark Specter officially touching down on Earth soil would be the equivalent of Thanos finally touching down to take on the Avengers. This mastermind behind all the Rangers' turmoil who has operated behind the scenes for years has finally arrived in person, and he is at his most dangerous as a result. The threat is even greater now that he possesses the fit, warrior body of Zordon to give him the physical prowess to best Rangers in battle. The Darkest Hour is set to be a year-long arc, and with Dark Specter in Zordon's body literally standing in front of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, it's already set to be a grueling year for the heroes.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #111 is on sale now from BOOM! Studios.

Joe Anthony Myrick (or JAM) is a comics writer who specializes in, of course, covering the big figureheads of the industry (Marvel and DC), as well as lesser-known indy parties and some personal favorites like BOOM! Studios.